On the recordJune 19, 2013
In drafting this amendment, I saw nowhere where it would actually be considered an earmark. I'm definitely opposed to earmarks in this Congress, and it doesn't specify an entity in a certain State or a certain location. If you just want to tag something as an earmark just to kill an amendment, explain why this amendment may be bad, but don't just sit there and say this is an earmark just because everybody is going to run from it. I see no reason why it would be considered such. But if the gentleman from Arkansas will work with me in addressing this to possibly pursue this in the final legislation, I would definitely consider withdrawing my amendment. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
